Contour milling machine



April 20, 1954 M. MARTELLOTTI ETAL CONTOUR MILLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 6, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet l Q mam y m .2 m)" y W AZ. A o4 mmw. f v

M. MARTELLOTTI ET AL April 20, 1954 CONTOUR MILLING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 6, 1951 INVENTORS IVA/910M krazorr/ MWMvm ATTORNEYS.

April 20, 1954 M. MARTELLOTTI ET AL ,7

CONTOUR MILLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 6, 1951 s Sheets-Sheet 5 a; 93 a @me 02% E ig.8

v IN VEN TORS 174 R10 M an! 0727 BY Luvcoz xvii/Yawn):

flTTOFNE YS.

1 Aprll 20, F954 M. MARTELLOTTI ET AL 2,675,743

CONTOUR MILLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 6, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 April 20, 1954 M. MARTELLOTTI ETAL 2,675,743

CONTOUR MILLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 6, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 BY L l/vcaz xvii/7:; 1/01:

4 T TO RNE Y8.

, A zcxwmrzxw Patented Apr. 20, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTOUR MILLING MACHINE tion of Ohio Application September 6, 1951, Serial No. 245,378

17 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in milling machines and has particular reference to an improved structure for the production of varying or irregular surfaces or contours.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is the provision of an improved automatic machine particularly adapted for the production of long work pieces, such as airplane spars or the like having variable height and twisted or warped efiect'final surface contours.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved type of milling machine facilitating the continuous control of both depth and angle of out being produced.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a machine of this character in which the cross movement may be correspondingly simultaneously varied so that the cutter will accurately describe a sinuous or other path along the surface being formed on the work piece and in which the several movements'may be automatically controlled in a simple and effective manner.

The invention further contemplates an improved type of milling machine in which the angular relationship between the cutter and work may be varied and in which means are provided effective to compensate for potential displacement of the cutter with respect to the traverse path resulting from such angular adjustment.

forming a part thereof, and it is to be understood that any modifications may be made in the exact structural details there shown and described, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from or exceeding the spirit of the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a front view of the machine.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 5.

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the spindle carrier and associate parts.

Figure 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the various controls for determining operation of the machine.

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view through one of the hand slide adjusting mechanisms on the line I'I of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a detail view on one of the control patterns.

Figure 9 is a similar view of another of the pat tern elements.

Figure 10 is a section on the line IllI0 of Figure 2.

In the drawings the numeral I I designates the bed of the type of machine chosen for purposes of illustration of the principles of the invention, said bed having the ways I2 on which is translatably mounted the column I3. Column I3 carries a motor I4 which through suitable gearing drives pinion I 5 meshing with rack I6 on the bed for efifecting longitudinal movement of the column. Intermediately the bed is provided with a table portion I1 supporting the work holding clamps or fixtures I8 for the work piece which is shown as substantially a T-rail in cross section, having the vertically held flange l9 secured in the fixture by clamps 2!] and the cross flange or head 2| on which in the present instance the milling operation is being performed. The column I3 is provided with ways 22 and 23 on the transversely adjustable carriage or cross head unit 24. Traverse of this unit is effected by piston 25 coupled with the carriage or slide by piston rod 26, this piston moving in cylinder 21 carried by the column. The upper portion of the cross slide or carriage 24 is provided with vertical guides or ways 28 for the vertical slide 29. A rod 30 couples this slide with piston 3| movable in cylinder 32 supported on the main cross slide by bracket 33.

At its lower portion the cross slide 24 has the countersunk cylindrical bearing recess 34 to receive the trunnion 35 of the angularly adjustable spindle carrier unit 36 which is thus supported for tilting movement as shown, for example, in Figure 4.

Keyed in the member 36 concentric with the trunnion 35 is a shaft 31 provided at one end with the bevel gear 38 and rotatably supporting on its opposite end the pinion 39. This pinion meshes at its right hand side with the rack 40 of the spindle carrier slide AI which carries the cutter spindle BIa and at its left with the rack 42 of the tracer slide 43, rotation of the pinion 39 thus timing the spindle carrier slide 4| and the tracer slide 43 for equal but opposite incremental movements.

These slides are supported on the face of the angularly adjustable spindle carrier unit by the ways or guides 44 and 45, the member 4| moving in the lower portion of these guides and the member 43 in the upper portion thereof. The

angularly adjustable spindle carrier is provided at with a segmental circular rack meshing with the sliding rack bar 41 actuable by piston rod 48 and piston 49 which move in cylinder 50 secured to the cross slide 24.

Reciprocation of piston 49 serves to vary the angular position of the spindle carrier. Due to the spline connection between the spindle carrier and shaft 31 this, in turn, imparts rotary movement to bevel gear 38 which meshes with the. gears '51 and 52. Gear 5| is carriedlby spline shaft 53 on which is slidable gear 54' carried'bya' compensator slide 55 having a meshinggear 56- on a spindle or stub shaft 51' supportingon-the face of the slide the angularly adjustabletemplate 58. The ratio of gearing is such that as the spindle carrier is tilted acorresponding tilt will be imparted to the template member 58 to react on the tracer 59 carried by the slide bracket- 60 on the vertical movement control slide 29. Screw 6 I determines theradjusted position-of the tracer body 62 with respect to slide 29. To (take; up. any-possible backlash as- .respects member'5'8 the spindle 51 has been provided with auspur gear63 'against which operateslthe spring-pressed backlash take-up plunger 64.

The transverse position of the: compensator slide 55-is controlledby piston 65--movable'=in' cylinder 65 carried by thecolumn itand: con-- nected by rod :61 withvbracket 68 on the slide :55; Slide 55wisprovided with-a rack- 65 connected by the series of intermeshing'pinions 10, H, 12' with rack- 13onthe-tracer slide 14, or. alternatively, by the pinions T5? and J2. Withthe parts in'the position shown'insFigurefi; any movement of; slide 55-to the right will react -:through these pinions to-backoff or compensatingly move-slide 'i' ito the left. Adjustablymountedion the slide 14" and shiftable by rotation..of the'adjusting screw :16 is the tracer headz-lT carrying a'tracer 18 engaging the-: transversez movement contmli template [9- carried: b'yf'brackets on' tl iebed; ll; As a result of. the intergearingreonnection described, any movement of the compensatory slide '55 toward the" rightwill affect"correspond-- ing movement .of theztracer head 'lTtothe -left, with'valveufitr'in the-position'shown in Figure 6: If thGIIQBEPTfiiSriding up an incline on the cam! 9-,wthe tracer deflection will cause: a hydraulic-reactionincylindertfi, moving slide 55"and thus carriage 24' to the right. The tracer head 11, however, moved by'the gears to theleft,'-wil1" shut ofi the flow through the'tracer valve: Thus; the transverse position of theslide 551s accurately determined by the pattern or template 19 during longitudinal traverse of the column l3: Shiftinguof the slide 55 carries with itthetemplate 58 whichtln'ough reaction on thetracer 59'varies the pressure conditions within the cylinder '21 and thus the position ofthe cross slide 24:

' The relationship of theparts just described is" particularly intended to take care of the cutting conditions illustrated in Figures 2 and 4, for example, when the cutter 8| carried by spindle S ta is operatingon the right hand portion of the work piece. When it is desired that the cutter be-operating primarily from vertical to left handangled position-on the left side of 'the'work piece toproduce a corresponding but opposite hand configuration by the use of the: same template member 19, handle 82 is operated-etc disengage pinion- Hi from rack 69*andengage therewith the pinion-15. At the same time valve: 83 is shifted-by handle 84 to interchange the K36111160- tion in the conduit lines intervening the tracer 'tioning of r the spindle carrier;

4 head 11 and the cylinder 66. With the parts in this position, the tracer 18, as before, following the template 19, out movement of the tracer point to the left will cause a movement of the slide 55 to the left, In other words, for a corresponding movement of the tracer point, the cutter will now' be moved from the centerxofthe work outwardly toward the left hand edge of the work. Due to the reversal, the efiect produced by the 'pinions 1E and 15, the compensating shutting off duced in the right hand "end of the cylinder-with the parts as; shown. will'c'ausemovement of the axis-of cutter 8! in a clock-wise direction, while pressure in the left hand end of the cylinder- Will cause movement of the 'cutterin ar'counter clockwise direction. If,- however, the position of:

thevalve 92 is changed degrees; tracer deflections will oppositely vary the. pressure conditions so thata corresponding: deflection ofrtheitraicer will cause a counterclockwise:in place"of-clock wise tilting and vice versa'. Valves '83'and 1'92 -may:

therefore-be independentlyactuated;- or, as'indicated in the diagram, may be simultaneously; reversedby the handle 84, atzonce-changing the relative control movementsefiected-by the'tra'cer" points wand 85-;

For effecting verti'cal' positioning? adjustment of the tracerheadBB-with respect to its control template 93; thevsupport shafted-for the tracer head and member 88 correspond in structurewitlr the*parts.-l06and" I08 shownrin'Figure 7. Like these-parts, theyare'splinedfor sliding move ment with respect'to casing 81 which rotatably mounts the-right and" left hand'threaded turn buckle-or sleeve 95: Formed'on' the sleeve is an exterior" gear 96 engaged by the pinion portion 91 of the'rcompound' gear'9199supported on the stud shaft" 98' an'dihaving its beveled portion 99- meshing withbevel gear-V100 actuable by handle 10 I for rotating the turnbuckle or sleeve'nut 95;to increaseprJdecreaSe the effective length of the; supportingzelements 88-94 or lfl6-i08 as shown 'in'Figure 7.

The; gear :90 *isfiin' mesh jointly with the gears l2'4 and l25ifreely rotatable on the splineshaft l26.. The intermediate clutch I21" settable by clutch shifting lever I 28 serves selectively to couplef'one or the other'of the gears with the spline shaft for effecting afeed. back drive through gear 90" to the tracer head 85; The splinezsh'aft has mounted on its inner end the gear 52 in mesh with the bevel gear '38. Consequently; any tilting movementofthe spindle carrier occasioned by pressure condition variations in cylinder 50 due to deflection of the tracer finger 85 feeds back through 38, 52, I24, or and? 904-88 to readjust the position of the tracer head-86; The purpose of the selector clutch I2! is to permit automatic control of tilting from a central position, in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. If fthe-tilting is-in' a clock- WiSe direction, this shouldbeduetoa release Pressure introorndownward movementof the; finger-:85. Consequently: the compensatiomto stop such? clock wise movement must be ardownward movement of' the tracer'head "86" which" will be efifected properly only if-gear' I 24- is coupled with the splineshaft: Onthe other? hand; if control oi corresponding: movement is" to be-made by the same. template as respectsrcounterclockwise tilt= ingoflthe spindle carrieiythengear I25 must be coupled. Ashas previously been'." pointed out; the-valve 92 is shiftedin'correspondencewith the shifting movement-of the clutch I21 to'efiect these results;

The actual vertical movement of the cutter. spindle is controlled by the template I I "mounted on the bed by" brackets I02 and cooperating with the tracerfinger" IIISi-carriedby the tracer head" I04; This 'traceris suspended by :a shaft I06 connected-pas shown inFigure 7 "to the feed-backrod I 08, by the same mechanism previously described that connects members 88* and 94. This rod'has therack portion I09sliding in the bracket I I0 mounted on spline shaft-"I I I, the rackIIlS-meshing with pinion II2'which is slid-- ably mounted on'th'e spline shaft 'I I I.

These partsare supported by the" bracket 'II3 carriedby the columnI3. Spline. shaft III has its inner end journaledin the bearing 1 I4- and is provided with a pinion" H meshing with rack H6 onthe'vertically movable slide 29; Deflections on tracer I03 react on the valve mechanism in tracer head I Mto'control the introduction and exhaust of pressure within the'cylinden32 for movement of the. piston" 3I and thus slide 29 while the rack andpinion' and spline shaft mechanism provide: a" feed back' from the slide for repositioning of the' tracer, head.

The end face of the slide 29"provides a templateportion at I I I cooperating with the tracer finger I I8 of the tracer head"I Iii-transversely adjustable as respects the slide 43 by means 'ofth'e-adjusting screw-I; Byrthis" adjustment, the-finger I I 8 may 'be axially aligned with the peripheral corner or other portion ofv the cutter'desired'to: be maintained in a constant position relative :to' the work irrespective of tilting adjustments; This-n tracer mechanism *controlsthe introduction and exhaust of pressure as respects 'the cylinder I2I containing piston I22 coupledi'by piston rod-123* to the tool carrier slide; II. tracer due eitheri-totilting-of the spindlecarrier or tovertical movements of 'the member I I I willreact-to position-the cutter 8Iby'axia-l movement of the tool carrying" slid-e; while atthe sametime the reaction of the tool carrier-slide rackon" rack 42 of the tracerheadslide43iby wayof the freely rotatingpinion 39will restore: the position of the tracer *h'ead'with respect to the tracer controlled valve I I9'"to stop the'tool'move ment.

It will be evident by comparison of FiguresZ: and 4', for example, :that as the spindle carrieristilted' to shift the; operative face of the cutterfrom a horizontal plane to apositionat'an'rangle to the: work that the simultaneous tilting of the? template member-'58 will :react Von tracer: 59 which controls cyIinder'Z'I, shifting. thexmain slidesto" the right such a distanceithat the inner effective edge of the-cutter'remains inan unchanged-position with respect to'thework; At the same time" the swinging effect of the slide movesthettracer; head LI I9 in an arcuate path aWayfrom'thetem plate II1 which permits an outward or-upwarcb movement, of: the: tracer: finger r I I8 energizing piston; I 22-tot move thelicutter 'downwardi;maim

Defiections 1 of the 6.. taining theinner cutting; edge "insthe:Sa,m6h0fizontal plane as before.- Thecombinediactionzotr these "parts therefore compensates-rforctilting off the cutter, even though-such 'tilting eflecttakes place about anaxis remote from the-cutter edge: itself; so that a smooth continuous cutting operation may beperformedwiththe cutter, edge following a given-linear path as respects-therwork; At the same time if 1 it "is desired that independent transverse adjustment be given to-the cutter;- varying the transverse extent of the path, this: isautomatically efifected by reaction of template "I9 on the tracerfIB which by reaction onthe piston 65 incylinder 66 imparts a bodilytransverse.- movement to the slide 55 and pivoted template- 58with the result that the" deflections of the tracer finger 59 serve not only to produce the compensatory movement of the parts necessitated by-theangular adjustment of. the-cutter-carrier, but take care of :any desired transverse vari-' ations in the path-ofrelative movement of worls andcutter;

The details of the-automaticcontrol of'zthe several mechanisms-just described shouldbe; readilyapparentby reference'to the" hydraulic: diagram, Figure'G. As there shown, the actu-r ating pump I; derives hydraulic operating mediumfrom a reservoir I3I and dischargesit: through'conduit I32 at a pressuredeterminedwby the relief valve I33; A general reservoir or-ree turn conduit I34 isprovided, discharging: into reservoir, preferably through'alow.pressureire lief valve I35; serving-t0 maintaim the system: filledat all times. The pressure conduit I32*extends through'the stop valve I36 to energize" the multiple tracer controlled hydraulic pressure conduit system I3-I, havinga pressure branch I3'IA' extending to' the tracer valve-headII', abranch I3-1B dividing intotheportion I316; extending; to valve casing I38,branch' I311) extending-to" the: tracer valve head" I I 9 and the branch I 31E extending-to thetracer valve head 62: The-pressure line has the additional 'branches I311: ex tending to the tracervalve head 86-and -I31G- extending to the tracer valve head"IOII-.=

The-several tracer valverstructures"ofthe present machine are basicallyof known conventional design havingthe generalpressure circuit" I31- centrallyconnected at'ia groove l 40 preferably of width to havesa' hydraulic underlap as' respects: thecentralrib- I I-I, of thevalve'element I42 so: that when the valve-isiin'neutralthere will-be a: pressure'fiowat each-sid-e-of the rib; The valveelement is'rfurther providedwith thecannelures or grooves I43 and'l44; providing passages-to the respective hydraulic cylinder lines and: with theshoulders: I45 and? IG-which in central orneutral position substantially underlapi the cone 1 nections I34A to the reservoir conduit system' I341 Each'of the valves'is' providedvwith-aistylusr' ortracer point for'engagement with accontroliing template" or pattern to" control the position'r'oi' the valve: which is I outwardly urged as respects the tracervalve' headJorcasingby a spring-141. These: valves function in the well-known manner that anyinward displacementof the valvecreates an unbalanced-pressure"condition, increasing the pressure i.nthe: groove at :the' stylusendof the" valve and decreasing the pressure in theopposite groove forreffectingpiston movement; As -shown, the tracer-walve-BZ; for1-controlling :the transverse I movementof the 'maina-slide. or. carriage is cou ends-of cylinder-27;- The-:tracerrheadu-I I9 is=1cou-a pled by conduits I and I5I with the opposit'ie:

ends of cylinder IZI controlling vertical movement of the tool head or slide, and the tracer head or housing I04 is connected by conduits I 52 and I53 with the opposite ends of the cylinder 32 for determination of the positioning of member I I1 which reacts on the tracer finger or point I I8. The tracer head 86 is coupled by conduits I54 and I55 with the valve 92 which reversibly and interchangeably couples the respective conduits with the conduits I56 and I51 extending to the cylinder 50 controlling the angular setting of the tilting slide or carrier. Similarly, the conduits I I58 and I59 connect the tracer valve unit 11 with the reversing valve 83 Which, in turn, interchangeably and oppositely connects the lines I58 and I59 with the lines or conduits I60 and I6I coupled to opposite ends of the cylinder 66. The present invention contemplates the utilization of hydraulic medium for driving the feed or traversing motor I4. This is preferably eifected by use of a variable delivery pump I60 deriving actuating medium from the reservoir l3I and supplying it to the pressure conduit i6I at a pressure determined by the release valve I62. This variable delivery pump has the adjustable pintle I 63 urged into delivery increasing position by spring I64 to the extent limited by the pintle adjusting mechanism I65. The pressure conduit I6I has a branch coupled with the reversing valve casing or bushing I66 containing valve I66 having intermediate neutral and right hand positions, in addition to the position shown in Figure 6. As shown in Figure 6, pressure is connected by the valve I66 to the upper side of the motor I4, the motor being exhausted through conduit I61 and back by way of the valve I66 and conduit I68 through the variable throttle or rate valve I69 to reservoir conduit I16. It will be understood that if the control or reversing lever I H is shifted to the dotted line positions, shown in Figure 6, the valve will be correspondingly shifted to neutral or reverse position, and the discontinuance or reversal of operation of the motor and thus of the movement of the column on the bed will be determined.

For automatic limitation of the extent or stroke of movement of the column in either direction on the bed, there have been provided the stop valves I12 and I13 mounted on the side of the column and having the dog actuable portions I14 and I15 for respective engagement with the adjustable dogs I16 and Ill mounted on the dog rail I13 of the bed. These stop valves are normally held in depressed positions by springs I19. A conduit I60 connects the right hand groove of the reversing valve with the stop valve I12 and a conduit I3I correspondingly connects the left hand groove of the reversing valve with the stop valve I13. As the machine columnmoves toward the left as viewed in Figure 1, the dog I16 will engage plunger I14 raising the automatic stop valve. This couples conduit I89 with the reservoir conduit system I36, short circuiting the pump I60 to reservoir and discontinuing actuation of motor 24. Similarly, when the reversing valve I66 is in its opposite or right hand position, the pressure conduit I6I from pump 60 will be coupled with the left hand groove of the valve and thus with conduit I8! extending to the stop valve unit I13. This conduit is normally blocked, but when the valve is opened by engagement with dog I11, the pressure fluid from pump I60 will be short circuited to reservoir, discontinuing actuation of the column moving motor I4.

As a safety precaution, there is coupled with the pintle I63 a piston I62 movable in cylinder I83 which is connected to conduit I64 by way of valves I and I94 to the reservoir conduit system I10. Clockwise adjustment, of valve I35 by movement of stop lever will couple conduit I84 with pressure conduit I6I so that the pressure will react on the piston I82, moving same to left and cutting down the pump delivery to zero. This operation of the valve also couples the safety system conduit I81 with reservoir eonduit I10 while at the same time valve I88 by its clockwise movement couples the pressure conduit system I31 from pump I 36 with the auxiliary safety conduit system I69.

The main and the auxiliary safety systems function in a corresponding manner and are particularly related to the tracer mechanisms which are pattern controlled: namely, the unit 66 for determination of the angle and transverse positioning of the tool carrier head, the unit I04 for determination of vertical adjustments and the unit 11 for determination of lateral movements of the main slide on the column, although the mechanism is capable of additional utilization in connection with any of the tracer mechanisms as may be desired. It has been particularly applied, however, to the three above-identified for the reason that all of these tracer mechanisms are under control of patterns or templates carried by the bed so that the tracers are automatically shifted by movement of the column with respect to the bed.

Each of the tracer valves in these units is provided with a groove I90 of sufficient width to remain in communication with the coupled pressure conduit i8! for any potential positioning of each of the valves. Under ordinary circumstances the spool I9I of the valve seals off communication between the pressure conduit I61 and the upper coupling to the valve body of the general reservoir return line I34. However, on excess displace: ment of any one of the three valves due to excessive movement of its tracer point. or finger,

the spool I9I will be moved'into a position afiording communication between I87 and I34 so that the pressure from pump I60 is short circuited to reservoir, stopping operation of motor I4 and. thus movement of the column unit.

In either the position shown in Figure 6 or in this displaced valve position, the spool I9! forms a seal preventing coupling through the several valve units of the conduits I34 and I89. When the valve I68 is moved by handle I86 to its stop position the pressure conduit I316 will then be coupled with 569 which will react against the underside of the piston portions I92 of the respective valves, moving the valves into a position of extended retraction to create a backing-oil action of these tracer controlled elements. movement is limited by the adjustable valve stops I92, which prevent coupling of the conduit I89 with the exhaust conduit I34 so that pressure will be maintained in I89 holding the valves in raised position. The effect of this is that the units under control of the valves 17, 86, and I04 will be given a maximum retraction or separation as respects the work. At the same time, the

movement of the valve section E85 will couple pressure from I6I through valve I94 and line I84 to react against piston I62. This will move pintle I64 toward neutral, stopping movement of the column I3.

In the event it is desired to reverse the movement of the column with the parts in this re-' This way valve 194 inlineor conduit I84. Whenithe valvemember I95 is in the positionshown in Figure 6, cylinder 1831s directly connected to'the valve unit I85. However, whenthevalve is given a quarter turn counterclockwise, thexzylinder- I83 Will then .be connected by .conduiti 96 withreservoir connection lldieleasingithe pressure against piston E82, which isthenmoved .byspring I64 to its pressure producing position. Under these circumstances, .movement .of .valve .136 .to the right hand positionwill reversethe direction .of operationof motor I l, moving .thesliding .column toward the left .toits normal. startingposition.

To facilitate setting up .of..the machine .or initiation of cycles .of operation;the..templatesl19,;93, and NH are preferably eachformed withraised terminal portions I91, particularly illustratedin Figures 8 and 9. .Theseterminal portionsproject above the contour .guiding portion vof .the pat- .terns. or templates. .As a result,...in initiallystarting..a. cutting stroke .or forlsetting. ,up. purposes,

.themachine may bebroughtto rest :withthe various tracers engaging the.left.hand...pr.ojecis automatically brought .to .rest as by. the appropriate stop dog or alternatively by thehand actuation of one of the -.manually controlled valves.

From the foregoing.descriptionit will'beevident that by. thepresent invention therehas been provided an improved automatically .controlled machine for the formationof-desired: contours on airplane spars or othereitherheavyorrelatively light workpieces in which aself-contained driven unit is suitably supported on-a bed which maybe varied in length according to the maximum length of work tobe .operateduporrzbutin which the various functionings of'the machin areentirely independent. of the bed structureso .that the same organized unit maybe employed inconnection with various capacities of-machines. .It will be further evident-that bysconstruction .of the unit that a main transversely adjustable slide to take care of variations intooljpath during longitudinal movement with a I superimposed. tiltable tool carrier that the tool carrieri may .be readily angled to care for desired variations .in the plane of. surface to be produced on .the:work during the traversing operation, While by 'the'interrelationship of the several controls .the effective or operative tangentplane to the surface of the tool maybe maintained constant for various tilted positioningsof thetool foreffecting variance of the cutting. plane and at the. same time any sinuous path over the surface. of vvthe work may be followed, depending .on thecontour of the particular patterns or templates employed.

It will also be appreciated that the :present structure is particularly advantageous in that the same templates and control means maybe rutilized for what is termed either hand ofacutting on the work, that.is,.-as to whether'the desired formation is to be produced on the letter :.the right'sideof the work. 'I'l1e structure -.in .question alsohas theadditional advantage that the various movementsJefiected arein direct accord- .ance with and correspondence to the contour of .layout .of .thework itself. Attention is invited to the fact that .this .is due, among other factors, to

the-.provisionpf independentcontrols for the respective movements involved, and the automatic compensationrfor ;displacements resulting from tilting. of .the cutter.

Attention is additionally invited to the improved structural control mechanism by which automatic .compensationis effected for both. potential lateral. and'vertical tool-surface displacement which has been inherent hitherto in prior artmachines utilizing axially tilting cutter constructions.

What is claimed is:

.1. A machineof the'character described including. a-Work support, a cutter support, a rotatable cutter spindle mounted on the cutter support, means to efiect a relative traversing movement of. the supports, a, pivot mounting one of thesupports on the machine to permit angular adjustment of :said one of the supports relative .to the other, tracer controlled means mountedon the machine and coupled with the .angularl-y adjustable support for controlling said angular adjustment, andadditional tracer con- .trol. means coupled With-.saidspivot for effecting .transverse. adjustmentofthe pivotto compensate for .ofisettingof the .cuttenspindle resultant from said angular adjustment,-. said means including an angularly adjustable; template,. a tracer forming part of said additionaLtracer control .means,.said .tracer being supportectby themachinexin position to engage the-angularly adjustable template, .and drive connections. intervening -..the. angularly adjustable vsupport .and ;the .angularly adjustable template .for 5 efiecting .simultaneousangular .adjustmentofsaidsupport. and;template.

2. A.machine..of ethemharacterdescribed ineluding-aiworkssupport, a :cutterv support, -a rotatable cutter spindle mounted .-on .the cutter support, means .to..eeiieot a relative traversing movement of the1supports,-..a;pivot. mountingone of I the supports ;on.the machinetopermit.angular adjustment .of esaid-lonetof .thessupportsmelative to the other, .tracer controlled ..means mounted on the machineuandrcoupled with theangularly adjustable. support -for.:controlling .said angular adjustment, "additional tracer control means coupled with said pivot for :efiecting :transverse adjustment of theipivotato compensateioroffsetting of the cutter spindle. resultant from .said angular adjustment, said .means including an angularly adjustable template, .a tracer forming part of said additional tracercontrol means, .said tracerobeing supported .by the -machine' in..position toenga etthe angularly adjustable template, drive connections L intervening the angularly; ad-

justable :support andmhe angularlyadjustable template for effecting simultaneousiangular .adjustment of i said :support and template, ..means mountingithe spindle :for axial movement ;.relative to its support, andstracer controlled power. means coupled with said spindle for eflecting gaxial movement-of the spindle with respect to the cuttersupport.

.3. A machine for milling irregular contours comprising a':bed,'a traversing support mounted on the bed, across slide mounted onthe support for transverse adjustment with respect'thereto, a spindle carrier, =-a trunnion connecting the carrier and cross slide for relative angular adjustment, a cutter spindle, a support for the spindle, ways mounting the spindle support on the carrier for axial adjustment of the spindle relative to the carrier, a rack on the spindle support, a control slide movable on the carrier, a rack on the control slide disposed in opposed relation to the rack on the spindle support, and an idler intervening and meshing with both of said racks for synchronizing the equal and opposite movements of the spindle support and the control slide.

4. A machine for milling irregular contours comprising a bed, a traversing support mounted on the bed, a cross slide mounted on the support for transverse adjustment with respect thereto, a spindle carrier, a trunnion connecting the car rier and cross slide for relative angular adjustment, a cutter spindle, a support for the spindle, Ways mounting the spindle support on the carrier for axial adjustment of the spindle relative to the carrier, a rack on the spindle support, a control slide movable on the carrier, a rack on the con.- trol slide disposed in opposed relation to the rack on the spindle support, an idler intervening and meshing with both of said racks for synchronizing the equal and opposite movements of the spindle support and the control slide, power means for efiecting movement of the control slide, a control mechanism for said power means including a template and a follower, and means for securing one of said last-named elements to the cross slide and the other to the control slide in opposed cooperating relation, whereby angular adjustment of the carrier will vary the reaction of the template on the follower.

5. A ,machine for milling irregular contours comprising a bed, a traversing support mounted on the bed, a cross slide mounted on the support for transverse adjustment with respect thereto, a spindle carrier, a trunnion connecting the carrier and cross slide for relative angular adjustment, a cutter spindle, a support for the spindle, ways mounting the spindle support on the carrier for axial adjustment of the spindle relative to the carrier, a rack on the spindle support, a control slide movable on the carrier, a rack on the control slide disposed in opposed relation to the rack on the spindle support, an idler intervening and meshing with both of said racks for synchronizing the equal and opposite movements of the spindle support and the control slide, power means for effecting movement of the control slide, a control mechanism for said power means 1 including a template and a follower, means for securing one of said last-named elements to the cross slide and the other to the control slide in opposed cooperating relation, whereby angular adjustment of the carrier will vary the reaction of the template on the follower, a control valve for the power means coupled with the follower for actuation thereby, and means for urging the follower into engagement with the template.

6. A machine for milling irregular contours including a bed, a support mounted on the bed for translation relative thereto, a traversing slide, ways mounting the traversing slide on the support for transverse movement relative thereto, a hydraulic motor intervening the support and slide for efiecting said traversing movement, a hydraulic tracer mechanism coupled with said traversing motor for controlling its operation, said mechanism including a valve and a displaceable tracer finger for operating the valve, an auxiliary slide carried by the support, a template 12 for control of said tracer finger carried by the auxiliary slide, an auxiliary motor coupled with said auxiliary slide for positioning it relative to the support, a template carried by. the bed, and means operable by the template for controlling the energization of said auxiliary motor.

7. A machine for milling irregular contours including a bed, a support mounted on the bed for translation relative thereto, a traversing slide, ways mounting the traversing slide on the sup port for transverse movement relative thereto, a hydraulic motor intervening the support and slide for effecting said traversing movement, a hydraulic tracer mechanism coupled with said traversing motor for controlling its operation, said mechanism including a valve and a displaceable tracer finger for operating the valve, an auxiliary slide carried by the support, a template for control of said tracer finger carried by the auxiliary slide, an auxiliary motor coupled with said auxiliary slide for positioning it relative to the support, a template carried by the bed, means operable by the template for controlling the energization of said auxiliary motor, said latter means including a feed back slide, a tracer unit mounted on the feed back slide, and a tracer finger'carried by the unit for engagement with the template on the bed. I

8. A machine for milling irregular contours including a bed, a support mounted on the bed for translation relative thereto, a traversing slide, ways mounting the traversing slide on the support for transverse movement relative thereto, a hydraulic motor intervening the support and slide for effecting said traversing movement, a hydraulic tracer mechanism coupled with said traversing motor for controlling its operation, said mechanism including a valve and a displaceable tracer finger for operating the valve, an auxiliary slide carried by the support, a template for control of said tracer finger carried by the auxiliary slide, an auxiliary motor coupled with said auxiliary slide for positioning it relative to the support, a template carried by the bed, means operable by the template for controlling the energization of said auxiliary motor, said latter means including a feed back slide, a tracer unit mounted on the feed back slide, a tracer finger carried by the unit for engagement with the template on the bed, and a reversing gear mechanism intervening the feed-back slide and the auxiliary slide for determining the direction of actuation of the feed back slide for a given deflection of the tracer.

9. A machine for milling irregular contours including a bed, a support mounted on the bed for translation relative thereto, a traversing slide, ways mounting the traversing slide on the support for transverse movement relative thereto, a hydraulic motor intervening the support and slide for efiecting said traversing movement, a hydraulic tracer mechanism coupled with said traversing motor for controlling its operation, said mechanism including a valve and a displaceable tracer fingerfor operating the valve, an auxiliary slide carried by the support, a template for control of said tracer finger carried by the auxiliary slide, an auxiliary motor coupled with said auxiliary slide for positioning it relative to the support, a template carried by the bed, means operable by the template for controlling the energization of said auxiliary motor, said latter means including a feed back slide, a tracer unit mounted on the-feed back slide, a tracer fingercarried bythe unit for engagement with the template on the bed, a reversing gear mechanism.

intervening the feed-back slide and theauxiliary slide -,for determining the direction of actuation of the feed back slide for -a givendeflection of the tracer,- a-- hydraulic operating circuit including-conduits coupling the auxiliary .slide motor and the tracer unit of the-feedback slide-and means-for reversing the efiective connections I of saidconduits as respects the tracer unit.

10. A machine for milling irregular "contours including a bed, a support mounted on thebed tfortranslation relative thereto, a traversing slide, ways mountingthe traversing slide on the support for transversemovement relative thereto, a hydraulic motor intervening thesupport-and slide for eifecting said traversing movement a hydraulic tracer mechanism coupled with said traversing motor for controlling its operation, said mechanism including a :valve and :a d-is- -placeable tracer finger foroperatingthe 1 valve, an auxiliary slide carried by the support, a-template-for control ofsaid tracer finger carried by the auxiliary slide, an auxiliary motor coupled with-said auxiliary slide for positioning itrela- "tive to the support,-a template .carriedby the bed, means operable by the template forcontrolling the energization of said auxiliary motor, said latter means'including a feed backslide, a tracer unit mounted on the feed'loack slide, a tracer finger carried by the unit for engagement withthe template on the bed, a reversing gear mechanism intervening the feed-back slide and the auxiliary slide for determining the direction of actuation of the feed back slide for a given deflection of the tracer, .a' hydraulic operating circuit including conduits coupling the auxiliary slide motor and the tracer unit of the feed-back slide, means for reversing the .efiective connections of said conduits as respects the tracer unit, a pivot connecting its templatev to the auxiliary slide, and means for effecting pivotal adjustment of the template to vary its angular position with respect to the slide.

11. A machine for milling irregular contours comprising a bed, a traversing support mounted on the bed, a cross slide mounted on the support for transverse adjustment with respect thereto, a spindle carrier, a trunnion connecting the carrier and cross slide for relative angular adjustment, a cutter spindle, a support for the spindle, ways mounting the spindle support on the carrier for axial adjustment of the spindle relative to the carrier, a rack on the spindle support, a control slide movable on the carrier, a rack on the control slide disposed in opposed relation to the rack on the spindle support, an idler intervening and meshing with both of said racks for synchronizing the equal and opposite movements of the spindle support and the control slide, power means for effecting movement of the control slide, a control mechanism for said power means including a template and a follower, means for securing one of said last-named elements to the cross slide and the other to the control slide in opposed cooperating relation, whereby angular adjustment of the carrier will vary the reaction of the template on the follower, a control valve for the power means coupled with the follower for actuation thereby, means for urging the follower into engagement with the template, power means intervening the support and template for efiecting variable positioning of the template with respect to the support, a tracer control mechanism for the power means carried by the support and traversible therewith, said mechanism including a tracer contact, and means on .114 the bed: for .supportingxa template for .ire'actiori on the contact variably-to control the-positionof the spindle control'template.

'12. A contourzgenerating machine comprising a bed, acutter spindle, .a column supporting'ethe spindle onthe bed, 'meansintervening the-col umn and the spindle 1 to provide universal Jadj-ustment of "the spindle with respect to the column including a transversely movable slide -an angularly adjustable carrier :mounted I on the slide, a- 'cutter spindle slide movable on 'the car rier, -a first tracer control mechanismcoupled with the traversingslide to control the movementthereofla secondtracer control mechanism coupledwith thecarrier for controlling the: an-

gular movement thereof, and a third tracer control mechanism coupled with the cutter spindle slide to control the movement of the spindleslide with respectto the carrier,'means for effecting translationof the column on thebed,-a'nd template means on the bed' individual to the said tracencontrol mechanisms for actuation thereo during translation of the column.

-13. A'contour generating machine comprising a bed, acutter spindle, a columnsupporting the spindle on the bed, means intervening the column andthe spindle to provide universal adjustment of the spindle'with respect to the-column -ineluding a transversely movable slide, anangularly adjustable carrier mounted on the-slides cutter spindle slide movable -on the carrier, -a first tracer control mechanism coupled -withthe traversing slide to control the movement there- 'of,-a second tracer controlme'chanis'm coupled with the carrier for controlling the angular-movement thereof, a third tracer control mechanism coupled with the cutter spindle slide to control the movement of'the spindle slide withrespect to the carrier ashiitabletraverse controlr'slide', a fourth tracer mechanism coupled with sai'd slide for controlling the shifting movementrof the traverse 'control slide, and reversing means intervening the fourth tracer mechanism and the traverse control slide for determining the direction of traverse response for a given reaction of the template as respects said fourth tracer mechanism.

14. In a contouring machine, a structure-effective to maintain a constant relationship hetween a selected portion of the cutter and a workpiece during angular positioning of the cutter, said structure including a supporting column, a cross slide mounted on the column for transverse movement, a spindle carrier pivoted to the slide, a pair of opposed slides mounted on the carrier, gearing interconnecting the slides for eif'ecting opposite movements thereof, a cutter spindle journaled on one of the slides and a contact member mounted on the other slide, an abutment on the traversing slide for controlling engagement with said contact member, a traverse control arm pivotally supported by the column, and connections between the carrier and said arm for determining the angular positioning of the arm in accordance with pivotal movement of the carrier.

15. In a contouring machine, a structure effective to maintain a constant relationship between a selected portion of the cutter and a workpiece during angular positioning of the cutter, said structure including a supporting colun'm, a cross slide mounted on the column for transverse movement, a spindle carrier pivoted to the slide, a pair of opposed slides mounted on the carrier, gearing interconnecting the slides for efiecting opposite movements thereof, a cutter spindle journaled on one of the slides and a contact member mounted on the other slide, an abutment on the traversing slide for controlling engagement with said contact member, a traverse control arm pivotally supported by the column, connections between the carrier and said arm for determining the angular positioning of the arm in accordance with pivotal movement of the carrier, means for effecting movement of the abutment in a direction toward and from the carrier and a control contact member for engagement with the traverse control arm carried by and movable with the abutment variably to determine the position of the cross slide.

16. In a contouring machine, a structure effective to maintain a constant relationship between a selected portion of the cutter and a workpiece during angular positioning of the cutter, said structure including a supporting column, a cross slide mounted on the column for transverse movement, a spindle carrier pivoted to the slide, a pair of opposed slides mounted on the carrier, gearing interconnecting the slides for efiecting opposite movements thereof, a cutter spindle journaled on one of the slides and a contact member mounted on the other slide, an abutment on the traversing slide for controlling engagement with said contact member, a traverse control arm pivotally supported by the column, connections between the carrier and said arm for determining the angular positioning of the arm in accordance with pivotal movement of the carrier. means for efiecting movement of the abutment in a direction toward and from the carrier and a control contact member for engagement with the traverse control arm carried by and movable with the abutment variably to determine the position of the cross slide, and hydraulic power circuits individual to the respective contact members and controlled thereby for determining the positions of their supporting slides.

17. A machine of the character described including a work support, and a cutter supporting column, means for effecting a relative traversing movement of the work support and column, a cutter support, a rotatable cutter spindle mounted on the cutter support, a cross slide carried by the column, a pivot mounting the cutter support on the cross slide for angular movement to efiect arcuate adjustment of the cutter spindle, a tracer carried by the column, a control template carried by the machine in position to engage said tracer, control means coupled with the tracer and with said angularly adjustable support for controlling said arcuate adjustment of the spindle, a second tracercarried by the column, a second control template carried by the machine positioned to engage said second tracer, additional control means connecting the second tracerwith the cross slide for effecting transverse adjustment of the cross slide and pivot, means mounting the spindle for axial movement relative to the angularly movable cutter support, a third tracer carried by the cutter support, a template supported by the column, and tracer controlled power means coupled with said third tracer and with the spindle for effecting said axial movement of the spindle with respect to the cutter support.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,602,860 Sleeper Oct. 12, 1926 1,974,919 Harris et al Sept. 25, 1934 2,026,042 Howe Dec. 31, 1935 2,081,288 Armitage May 25, 1937 2,324,546 Taylor July 20, 1943 2,424,031 Heel July 15, 1947 2,593,363 Thalmann Apr. 15, 1952 

